A-list actor, Olu Jacobs, is simply the gentle giant. The father of two boys is equally an impeccable and profound role interpreter, a silent conqueror of both the national and international acting scenes, a jolly good fellow and above all, a gentleman whose approach to life is worthy of emulation. Celebrated and gap-toothed Oludotun, an indigene of Abeokuta (in Ogun State), after several phone calls and co, bared his mind to AZUH ARINZE. Enjoy the encounter…
I understand you played one of the lead roles in Amina. Could you please tell me what Amina is all about?
But you know what Amina is all about (Smiling).
I don’t…
Okay, Amina is a love story that cuts across. We call it crossover. Amina is about unity, friendship across the Niger. It’s about law and order.
What role did you play in Amina?
I played the part of Igwe.
What can you say about the role?
I found it very interesting. I’m not too strange to it though because I’ve played one before, but this was an exciting challenge for me as an actor, which I really enjoyed.
So, how was it like working on the location of Amina and with the over 2,000 cast?
The entire period we spent on location was very hectic. The work load was very high and intense, but there was this underlined enjoyment because everybody was working together. There was this spirit of togetherness. The director (Ndubuisi Oko) was in total control of everything; the Executive Producer (Sir Hycinth Onwuka) was like a definitive father to the entire production. His aura affected everybody and we worked our hearts out to make the production come out fine. There was nothing you asked of him that was too much. He made our stay very, very enjoyable. Hence, I used the word definitive. Artistically, creatively and directorially, our director was in charge. He’s an actor’s director and one enjoyed working with him. He was forthcoming with information as to what he wanted to achieve, which is very rare. In fact, there are very few directors who know that. Hence, I say he’s an actor’s director.
Tell me about yourself.
I’m Olu Jacobs, from Ogun State, Abeokuta to be precise. I was born in Kano on July 11, 1942.
How did your childhood go?
My childhood? Em…we were eight children from a polygamous home. Quite frankly, it was alright, it was fine. I always asked my step-mothers for anything and I always got them. And my step-brothers and sisters asked my mum and they got whatever it was they asked for. So, the children enjoyed themselves because there was nothing they wanted that they didn’t get. And I’m not a polygamist before you ask me (Laughing).
Of course, you know I will ask that question: Why is Olu Jacobs not a polygamist, having enjoyed coming from one?
Well, I can’t cope with it. I cannot relate…I find it difficult to have that kind of relationship. I can’t cope. I don’t believe in it. I can’t cope and I don’t think it is right.
How did you meet your wife, Joke?
We met at the theatre, National Theatre.
When was this?
1981.
How did it happen and what attracted you to her?
I don’t know. I was at a meeting, this lady opened the door and walked in and I told the entire meeting that that was the lady I was going to marry. Even when I had not met her before and didn’t know her.
Just like that?
Yes. just like that.
Be frank, tell me, what do you like and what do you hate about her?
Ah! I don’t know o!
Okay. Do you hate anything about yourself?
Anything? (Laughs) I don’t know…What can one say? (Laughs again) Okay, maybe that I’m not perfect because for whatever I do, I believe that I can always do better. As an actor, it has always been learning, learning, learning, learning, learning. Every script is a learning process; whether you have done it before or not, you still have to learn.
Which food do you enjoy eating most?
(Smiles) I like garri with vegetable soup, smoked fish and then you have goat meat that is very tender. I also like rice with spare ribs and fried plantain.
What about drink?
Well, I’m a spirit man and I think all my friends know that. Azuh, you know that too (Laughing). But ideally, I’m a vodka man, but when vodka is not available, I go for gin. Some of my friends like rum. So sometimes, I go for rum too.
Do you have any favourite car?
(Thinks) Yes, Jaguar SJ4. I’m very, very clear about that. The second place is Mercedes Benz 600 SEL and then the third is the Lincoln Navigator.
What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
(Breathes) As of now, I’m more excited by Nigerian music. I have enjoyed different types of music from all over the world, but I’m now beginning to enjoy Nigerian music. The likes of Shina Peters, Osita Osadebe, this Ozigizaga man (Chris Hanen), the one wey chop eba for England (Bright Chimezie), Wasiu Ayinde Marshal…Those are the ones that really interest me. I listen to their lyrics and ehen! Daddy Showkey. He excites me. Daddy Showkey is my man, any day. I hope we will be able to work together someday. I really, really like him. He’s very, very original. And…Yes, yes…Baba Fryo. He’s also good, but I think he is still struggling to come again.
Which colours are your favourite?
Em…I like green, white, blue.
Do you have any phobia?
Height. Oh! absolutely height. You take me to second, third floor, I can’t take it. I can never forget it, when I was playing in Pyrates and I was taken to a skyscraper. Even when I talk about it, my heart cuts.
Do you have any regret?
(Looks up) Well, by now I should have done some plays that I wanted to, but because of finance, I’ve not been able to do them. But I’ve not given up, I’m still working on seeing that come through.
What actually would you say has been causing the delay?
Opportunities…It’s money. You don’t want to go and look for sponsorship because it is not easy; and asking people to invest in entertainment is not easy too because they are not used to that.
Can you recollect your saddest and happiest moments?
Very difficult…I can’t.
How did you get entangled with acting?
(Smiles) Ogunde did it.
Which of the Ogundes?
Hubert Ogunde.
Whaoooh! How did he do that?
Ogunde used to come to Kano every year when I was very young and my parents used to take me to go and watch him. At that time, as a little boy, I used to take part in my school plays…and anytime he came to Kano, my parents used to be surprised as to how I was always in the know. I’m talking about 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952. I was such a young boy then. I will create as much awareness as possible so that I can go and watch him and days later, I will be a different person. My elder brother, Toye (now deceased) used to take us to Rex Cinema in Kano. Then, we were residing in Kano (France Road) and I used to watch a lot of American films. And that’s how I began to realize that I wanted it more than anything else.
What’s your definition of acting?
My definition of acting is being (spells it). It means being real. That’s what being means. If you are playing a teacher, you have to be a teacher, period! There’s no other way and anybody that sees it will believe that you are the character.
So, which of your numerous roles do you consider your best and worst so far?
I don’t have any. There’s hardly any that I can single out. There’s hardly any that I’ve sat down to watch. At least, not deliberately. I’m not one of those who watch what they have done because I believe I can always do better and if I do, I will be very critical. I’ve never attended a premiere of any of the films that I’ve done. I’ve always been represented by my agent. I’m very, very critical of myself. If I watch, I will be looking at things I could have done better. I know that and that’s why I don’t watch.
Tell me the lowest and highest fees you have collected as an actor.
Well, quite frankly, I don’t like to discuss my fees. It’s something that is confidential between myself and the producers. I believe it should be so. As long as I live with it, whatever thing I’ve agreed to collect, it should remain confidential.
Why?
Because, professionally, it is never done. My negotiation, whatever thing I’ve agreed with a producer, is a confidential thing. It’s not an ongoing thing. It varies. And that is the way it should be and that is because what I can bring into a production is not what somebody else can and that determines what I’m paid…Moreover, since the negotiations are not done openly, they should remain confidential and in the interest of self-respect…
If you hadn’t opted for acting, what other profession would you have embraced?
I would have become a priest.
How do you see the industry generally?
(Breathes again) I will say that the industry is going through a revolution and in any revolution, they come en-masse. You find the good, the not so good and the bad, all coming together. There are natural wastages; the good will continue to survive; some of the not so good will survive and the bad will disappear. We have a lot of people in this industry who are good, who will continue to survive. Some people are not so good, but they are able to learn and learn fast to improve themselves and the ones that are not good will disappear. It will happen and we know it.
The type of product we have at the moment is a Nigerian disease where when one person produces witchcraft, everybody rushes into witchcraft. Now, there’s been a lot of outcry about why everything is all about witchcraft. Some people are complaining, but my answer is that every story that is told is a Nigerian story. There is no witchcraft story that is not Nigerian, but since we have producers who are mainly business people, we have to continue to dialogue with them to understand that they don’t have to sell only one type of product because you cannot live on apple or garri or amala everyday, alone, without any variation. It gets boring. Variety, without doubt, is the spice of life. And Amina, of course, is that spice of life.
Was there anybody that you looked up to as a model or tried to ape while growing up?
Not really. I don’t think there was. My dad was a no-nonsense man. He taught us to listen to both sides of argument. It didn’t matter who came to tell the story. You must listen to both sides. And that really affected me. My mother, she was the one that said be patient. I used to stammer when I was a kid. If anybody upsets me, I couldn’t talk for three days and all my mother will say is be patient. I never went for any therapy. I cured myself because I needed to be heard. And once I decided I was going to act, the only way I decided I was going to be heard was to do that – be patient. I’m in control of that now and only use it (stammering) when I need it professionally. So, you can still say that my stammering works for me (Laughing).
What will you say is the secret of your success?
God (Pointing up). You must keep practicing, you don’t stop even when you are upset, you must carry on. When you are sad, you do it, when you are happy, you do it as well. There’s no other magic.
What advice do you have for those aspiring to be like you?
My advice to all young people who are interested in entertainment is that they must be absolutely sure that that is what they want to do. Two, they must find out what it takes and they must work at it religiously. Be it singing, dancing, acting…because there is a saying that the repetition of an act makes its performance almost automatic.